Khaleda at old jail: Oli sees government-JP nexus

'Khaleda was made to wear uniform of prisoners,' he claims

The Awami League government along with its ally Jatiya Party has orchestrated the plan to keep BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia at the abandoned Dhaka central jail.

Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) President Oli Ahmed made the remarks at a press conference on Saturday.

LDP, a partner of the BNP-led 20-party alliance, held the press briefing at its Tejgaon head office over Khaleda's conviction and jailing.

"Ershad, now freed, had been kept at the central jail at Najumuddin Road. I think Awami League and Ershad made the plan jointly (to keep her at the same jail)," the former BNP leader said at a press briefing on Saturday.

"There was no need to send her to an abandoned jail," the former minister opined.

Oli questioned why the government has sent Khaleda to the old jail when there are two new central jails in Keraniganj and Kashimpur.

"The government could have kept her in one of the two jails showing honour to her. It also could have kept her at her residence intensifying security," he said.

"We have heard she (Khaleda) was made to wear prisoner's uniform and kept in an old jail. What is the reason behind it?" he questioned.

The LDP president said even the military-backed government kept Khaleda in a residence of Parliament in 2007.

"The current government must give answer to people's question someday as to why Khaleda Zia was not kept in such a residence," he said.

He observed that nobody in the country is eligible for getting division in jail if Khaleda, who is a former Prime Minister, a first lady, and the wife of a former Army Chief, is not given it.

Oli said their party thinks Khaleda was convicted 'unfairly' as part of an 'evil' plan to keep her away from the next polls and destroy BNP.

He demanded the government immediately release Khaleda from jail.

UNB said, the LDP chief also expressed solidarity with BNP's all programmes announced seeking her release.

On Thursday, a special court in Dhaka convicted Khaleda and sentenced her to five years' imprisonment in the Zia Orphanage Trust graft case.

Half an hour after her conviction, Khaleda Zia was taken to Old Dhaka central jail at Najumuddin Road from Special Court-5 of Bakshibazar.